I don’t immediately recognize them, but if they were enemies Marta would be frightened.
Her calm encourages my own as I peel myself off Sofia and wipe my eyes.
"Are you hurt?" Marta asks.
I shake my head.
My hands are trembling so badly, I can barely keep them steady.
"Sofia?"
I pull back, checking her over.
She's crying, her face streaked with tears, but there's no blood or injuries.
Just fear.
"You're okay," I tell her, pulling her into my arms. "You're okay. It's over."
She clings to me, her small fingers digging into my shoulders as I rock her for a few moments, gathering the strength to get up.
Then I stand on shaking legs and carry her out from under the stairwell.
Marta approaches, her hands reaching for Sofia.
"Let me take her upstairs," Marta says gently. "I'll get her a hot bath to help her calm down."
"No." I hold Sofia tighter. "I'm not letting her go."
Marta frowns and sighs.
I don’t mean to be harsh with her, but she can't protect my child like I can. "The men are sweeping the grounds now. They'll make sure it's safe,” she says.
"What happened?" My voice comes out hoarse and I clear my throat to speak again. "Who were they?" Sofia clings to me as I press a hand to the back of her head and kiss her cheek.
"I don't know yet. But they didn't make it past the terrace."
Marta's expression is grim. "The guards shot them down before they reached the house."
I process this slowly.
The men in the garden are dead.
Killed before they could breach the villa and get to Sofia or me.
But that was way too close.
I had no clue Gerard's men were so heartless, that Dante's world was so dangerous.
I thought this home would be safe.
"Where are they now?" I ask.
"Still outside. The guards are handling it."
I nod mechanically as my eyes drift toward the hallway where only steps away the garden door is the only barrier between my little girl and sure death.
My legs feel weak, unsteady.
